Laxative



Patented Mar. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES LAXATIVE Frederick Hoelzel, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Falk- Baxter, Inc., a corporation of Illinois No Drawing. Application August 1, 1936,

Serial No. 93,917

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a laxative, and more particularly to a laxative in which a mineral lubricant is combined with a fibrous base.

An object of the invention is to provide a laxative preparation in which a mineral lubricant is retained by a fibrous body and is not displaced by contact with Water in the intestinal tract.

A further object is to provide a confection or the like having lubricating properties.

The value of mineral oil as a laxative or as an aid in the prevention or relief of constipation has long been known. It is also known that plain or simple mineral oil is not satisfactory because of involuntary leakage and because it fails to mix readily with the digestive residues. The oil tends to remain separated and accumulates in small pools, etc.

To reduce the tendency of leakage, heavy mineral oils and petroleum jelly have been used, but such products have not proven satisfactory. Mineral oil emulsions have also been developed, but these tend to break down in the digestive tract. It has also been proposed that mineral oil be mixed with bran to form a laxative compound. However, the bran has a greater aflinity for water than for oil and in the digestive tract absorbs water, which in turn displaces the oil, thus leaving the bran and free mineral oil to pass separately through the tract. The mineral oils and jellies which have a lubricating effect when taken into the digestive tract will be known throughout the specification and claims as mineral lubricants.

In order to have a product which would serve well primarily as a mineral preparation, that would mix well with the intestinal residues and thereby lubricate more uniformly, and that would not be likely to remain separate or leak, I have developed a preparation consisting essentially of a base of inert material having a high affinity for a mineral lubricant added thereto and a greater affinity for a mineral lubricant than for water. For a suitable base, I select any material that will serve as a carrier and distributor of the mineral lubricant in the digestive tract and that will remain substantially intimately bound to the mineral lubricant in passage through the digestive tract. In general, the inert material should have a higher affinity for the oil or other lubricant than for water, such as, for example, ground silk, wool, hair, feathers, kapok, and various parchmentized cellulose and cellulose derivatives having the above mentioned properties. While other materials in pulverized, fibrous, granular,

It can also be used advantageously with fruit juices and sugar.

As a specific example of my process and product, I mix approximately one part, by weight, of ground and purified kapok fiber with two parts of petroleum jelly and three parts of heavy mineral oil so as to form an intimate mixture.

The mixture may be flavored by the addition of suitable flavoring, juices, etc, such as desiccated orange or lemon juice together with sugar. Various flavors and. blends together with sweetening materials may be employed.

When mixed with sugar and flavoring materials, a confection-like product is produced in which the high percentage of mineral lubricants will be disguised in appearance and taste while at the same time the mineral lubricants are held closely by the fiber by reason of the strong affinity therefor of the fiber. The mineral lubricants in such a preparation; however, will serve their purpose in the digestive tract without interference by the added fruit juices and sugar, etc. because such added ingredients are quickly digested and the basic combination of kapok fiber and mineral lubricants remains.

The laxative value of the mixture may be further increased by the addition of suitable amounts of cellulosic and hemicellulosic substances which supply added bulk and which have a great affinity for water. Such materials are purified cellulose in various forms, agar, the mucilaginous part of psyllium seed and gums, such as India gum.

It will be understood that while I have set forth a specific example and specific types of fiber and other ingredients, the invention may be employed obviously in other combinations by one skilled in the art.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A laxative comprising a body capable of being taken into the digestive tract and a mineral lubricant, said body having a greater aifinity for said mineral lubricant than it has for water.

2. A laxative comprising a fibrous body capable of being taken into the digestive tract and a mineral lubricant absorbed thereby, said fibrous body having a greater aflinity for said lubricant than for water.

3. A laxative comprising a fibrous body capable of being taken into the digestive tract and a mineral lubricant absorbed thereby, said fibrous body being soft and having a greater atfinity for said lubricant than for water.

4. A laxative comprising kapok fiber and mineral lubricant absorbed thereby.

FREDERICK HOELZEL. 

